The Australian government has made a $1.7 billion investment to equip the Australian Defence Force with some of the most powerful and technologically advanced weapons systems in the service’s history.
The government has purchased more than 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart Class destroyers for approximately $1.3 billion and approved the purchase of more than 60 Advanced Anti-radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range missiles from the US for $431 million.
The Tomahawk is a world-class long-range strike capability with a range of 1,500 km. Australia joins the US and the United Kingdom as the only nations in the world to have the long-range strike missile in their arsenals.
Meanwhile, the Advanced Anti-radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range missiles are used to target enemy radar systems and will be operated on the Royal Australian Force’s Growler and Super Hornet aircraft, with plans for the F-35A Lightning II fighter jets in the future.
The Australian Army’s Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles will also be equipped with Spike Long-Range 2 anti-tank guided missiles from Varley Rafael Australia, providing soldiers with the capability to engage with enemy armour at a range of more than 5km.
The Varley Rafael contract, valued at more than $50 million, will deliver the first Spike missile in early 2024. The company will present options to the government for domestic manufacturing.
“With the acquisition of these formidable long-range strike missiles the Albanese Government is acting with pace to deliver on the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review,” said Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
“We are investing in the capabilities our Defence Force needs to hold our adversaries at risk further from our shores and keep Australians safe in the complex and uncertain world in which we live today.”
The acquisition of the new defence capabilities is part of the government’s efforts to deliver recommendations from the Defence Strategic Review.
“We are buying these weapons now to deliver capability quickly – but we are also considering options to manufacture missiles domestically because of the importance of building sovereign Australian defence manufacturing capabilities,” said Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.
